Born again Christian

Unwanted by his All Blacks coach, Christian Cullen is decamping to Munster, where adventure and an adoring new rugby public awaits. By Ciaran Cronin

The question came from the floor and Alan Gaffney had been expecting it, sensed it hanging in the air. It was Tuesday evening at the Bank of Ireland branch on Limerick’s O’Connell Street and the Munster coach was revealing his squad for next season. There were still three contracts left to be filled, the Australian said, and, while everybody pondered the possibilities, one supporter spat out what they were all thinking. What about Christian Cullen? Was there any chance he might be persuaded to leave New Zealand and come to Munster? Gaffney mumbled a reply that left nobody any the wiser and even when the microphones were switched off and the cheese and crackers were being crunched, Munster officials were playing down their chances of landing such a huge fish. An approach had been made and the bait cast, but they were not expecting any word from Wellington until at